YOGA IN THE PARK

When Erin Kelly gives free yoga lessons every Sunday morning at Crescent Park in Chicago's Beverly community, she is making a dream come true.

'I had dreams about being in a park and teaching. After about a week of those dreams, something clicked with me and I thought, 'Why don't I do it?'' said Kelly, a certified Hatha yoga instructor.

Following her dream, Kelly started her outdoor sessions in May. She said she will continue to hold her weekly 10 a.m. yoga lessons at the park, at 2230 W. 108th Place, until cold weather intervenes. On a recent Sunday morning, about 20 residents showed up to stretch, strengthen muscles and relax, all under Kelly's watchful guidance.

'In the outdoors, it's easy not to think about stressors. The open space is so beautiful and practicing yoga outside is just consistent with a joyful feeling,' Kelly said.

'I start my lessons by asking everyone what their intention is for being here. People are stressed out or don't know how to relax. I try to teach what they want. I want them to feel good in their body,' Kelly said.

Kelly, 23, grew up in the Beverly community and always was drawn to exercise. She said she felt yoga was a welcome contrast to 'a bunch of crunches,' running and other forms of exercises that she tried.

'When I was younger, I used to exercise a lot, but it took me a long time to figure out that a body responds to love and appreciation. When I was 17, I watched a yoga DVD and the instructor kept saying, 'Breathe and feel how your body feels.'

'I thought: 'Why not exercise this way?'

'It's empowering to understand how the body works. It's good to have self appreciation and to breathe, take time and move slowly,' she said.

Nadine Kerwan, 75, of Beverly, has worked out with Kelly for 'three or four times.'

'I have taken yoga in the past and I jazzercise. I just think I need stretching and my feet give me all sorts of trouble,' Kerwan said.

Beverly residents and siblings Jennifer Drake, 28 and Julie O'Connor, 40, said they come not only for the exercise but for the feeling of wel -being that Kelly's yoga class inspires.

'I'm going to try and do a marathon this year and my body likes yoga. My sister and I run and we talk the entire time. This is our quiet time together,' Jennifer Drake said.

Kelly is very enthusiastic about teaching yoga and pointed out that she is happy to take students at any skill level.

'My heart is so drawn to teaching. I feel comfortable doing this because I am speaking from the heart when I teach,' Kelly said. 'I do yoga to feel good and I teach from what I have integrated into my own life and experiences.'

'I have some students who have taken yoga before, and I have some who have never tried this. The biggest misconception people have is thinking that they can't do yoga because they are not flexible. But that's not what yoga is about. Yoga is a practice to help you feel better.'

'Oh yeah, you can get to be a pretzel shape if that is where you want to go, but you start at where you are. Everyone's afraid, but everyone can do this,' Kelly said.

Kelly's classes are held in a shaded area of the park and are free and open to the public, although donations are welcome. Students can lie on the grass or bring mats or towels to lie on during the one hour session.

By Patti Ahern

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